A Horse, a Hacker and a Hurricane - Three Must Reads!

Contributed by: Jane Borcherding, Hive Member Overland Park

Time is valuable. No one wants to waste time on a lackluster storyline or a protagonist they don’t connect with. That’s why choosing a good book is important. There is such a wide range of resources to help but for me, it comes down to word of mouth from friends with similar tastes on what they liked or didn’t. After reading 75 books so far this year, some in hardback and some in audio, there are standouts. That book that sticks with you and pops to mind when someone asks, “do you have any good books you’ve read lately?” Well, here are a few of my standouts - A horse, a hacker and a hurricane - Three must reads!

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Horse by Gerldine Brooks. (Historical Fiction)

This is a beautiful story that spans from 1850 pre-civil war to the modern day, flipping back and forth through time. Beginning in current day with the discovery of an old painting and a skeleton in an attic, the story starts to unfold about the Horse in the picture and the enslaved groom who cared for him. There is so much rich history that the plot does take some time to really get going. Please don’t give up. Brooks does an excellent job laying out how society treated black slaves, horses, and the early development of the racehorse industry. All of this just enhances the readers strong understanding of the protagonists’ viewpoints as Brooks draws the parallel between the past and current society. Once you are invested in the lives of these characters, you will be googling them to find out more! A quick tip, since this is a rather long story, I read hardcopy and downloaded the audio so I could listen to it on my walks.

Identity by Nora Roberts. (Mystery/Romance)

Curl up with this one. Since it seems like everyone's digital media has been hacked or at least had attempts made at some point, we can relate to the unsettledness of being violated in this arena. However, this story will take being hacked to a new level. Morgan, the main lead, could be any one of our daughters. She is living with her friend, working, and saving money to achieve her dreams. Yet, a simple encounter with a hope for romance sets her life into a tailspin. The depth this novel takes to demonstrate how malicious and deceitful a person can be is troublesome to say the least. But there are still honest and good people out there. You will be rooting for Morgan, her family and the cast of characters that surround her by the end of the story.

The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton. (Drama/Apocalyptic) Recommended for one of my book clubs, I'm not sure I would have picked it up on my own. Yet, as I began reading, I was transfixed. Wanda is a tough and endearing protagonist that you feel compelled to want to take under your wing. The heartbreaking story follows her life from the day she is born through adulthood as the world around her literally crumbles. How she adapts to survive in the elements and those she meets along the way keeps it captivating to the very end. The apocalyptic storyline always has one thinking “what would I do in that situation?” I began by reading this story but was so anxious to continue that I downloaded it from Libby so I could listen while I worked. Enjoy Wanda’s story.

Let me know if you have read any of these and what you thought about them.

Happy reading!